Sand washer



July 17, 1934. HOWE I 1,967,028

' SAND WASHER Filed June 18, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet l //7I /7%/? fininen g $14 6, @1 Z: 2 (A 7% iWa/wefa M 17, 1934. A {HOWE 1,967,028

SAND WASHER Filed June 18, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 A. F. HOWE SAND WASHER July 17, 1934.

Filed June 18, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 W M W p 9 I 6 y I; J Um y lllJmll ill! A. F. HOWE SAND WASHER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 18, 1930 02190776 Jnen 30/4 6 Patented July 17, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 17 Claims.

This invention relates to sand washers.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved sand washer comprising a washing tank arranged to receive the sand, in combination with agitator mechanism operative in the tank to agitate and stir the sand to separate the sand from the waste material and to discharge the waste material by flotation means, and devices controlling the discharge of the cleaned sand 16 from the tank.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for controlling the agitator so as to permit the agitator to be operated by the driving mechanism in a manner to avoid damage and i5 injury to the parts even though the sand has become settled and packed in the tank.

Other objects will appear from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a side elevation with parts in section showing the complete invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the washing tank.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view approximately on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view showing the clutch arrangement for controlling and operating the agitator devices by the rotary shaft.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view showing the valve device for controlling the discharge of the sand from the tank.

Fig. 6 (sheet 1) is a view showing a clutch device constituting a part of the invention.

My improved method of washing sand comprises the step of crushing or grinding the sand by a crusher or grinder 1 to which the sand is delivered from a hopper 2 and from which the sand is discharged through a chute 3 to an endless conveyor 4. The conveyor 4 operates over a magnetic roll 5 which discharges the sand and other materials mixed with the sand onto a shaker screen 6. The metallic particles 7 are separated from the sand and non-metallic substances by the magnetic roll 5 and are discharged into a chute 8.

The finer particles of the sand are discharged through the screen 6 to a chute 9 while the larger particles are discharged into a grinder so 10 operating to grind or crush the larger particles and to discharge the crushed sand and particles onto the chute 9 from which the sand is discharged into a washer 11. The sand is thoroughly agitated and washed in the Washer 11 and is discharged therefrom onto a conveyor 12 which operates to deliver the sand into a dryer 13 of the familiar centrifugal type and from which the dried sand is discharged onto a conveyor 14. A

Thus, my method comprises the steps of crush- 60 ing and grinding the sand, removing therefrom the metallic particles, then grinding or crushing any of the larger particles of sand to make most of the sand suitable for use, then washing the sand and removing from the sand the sedi- 65'- ment and other foreign substances, and then drying the sand. 7

An important feature of the present invention is the construction of the washer. The washer tank 11 is of the vertical cylindrical 70 type having an open top through which the sand is discharged from the chute 9 and having a bottom wall 15 supporting a bearing member 16. A frame 17 is rigidly attached to the upper K, end of the tank 11 and has a bearing 18 in axial 75- alinement with the bearing 19 that is mounted in the member 16. A shaft 20 has its lower end journalled for rotation in the bearing 19 and its upper end in the bearing 18 and is connected v by a coupling 21 with a shaft 22 rotative in a 80- hearing 23. A number of spaced planetary gears 24 are rotatively supported by the upper end of the shaft 22 and mesh with a central gear 25 attached to a shaft 26 journalled in a bearing I member 27. A gear 28 is attached to the shaft 5 26 and is engaged by a gear 29' attached to a shaft 30 driven by a reversible motor 31 mounted on a support 32. Thus, the shaft 20 may be rotated in either direction by operation of the reversible motor 31.

A number of pairs of spaced angle bars 33 are attached to the inner side of the tank 11, and each pair of said angle bars constitutes a guide for a vertically movable bar 34. In the V embodiment shown, there are four of these guides 5" and there are also four of'the sliding bars 34 (Fig. 3). Each of these bars 34 has a pair of inclined sockets 35 in which are mounted downwardly and inwardly inclined plates 36. Thus, there are two pairs of the downwardly and in- 100 wardly inclined plates 36, all being parallel with each other. 7

Each of the bars 34 supports a socket 37. Downwardly and inwardly inclined plates 38 are mounted in the sockets 3'7 approximately midway 105 between the plates 36 and at right angles thereto.

A tubular shaft 39 is mounted around the shaft 20 within the tank 11 and has its upper end formed with a circumferential groove 40 (Fig. 4). A ring 41 is mounted in the groove in 119 but does not rotate with the shaft 39. Downwardly and outwardly inclined arms 42 have their upper ends attached to the ring 41 and their lower ends attached to the respective sliding bars 34. Thus the ring 41 and the arms 42 constitute supports for the frame comprising the bars 34 and the plates 36 and 38. When the shaft 39 is moved upwardly along the shaft 20, it is clear that the frame, comprising said bars 34 and plates 36 and 38, will be moved thereby.

That portion of the shaft 20 that is immediately below the bearing 18 is formed with screwthreads 43 on which a nut 44 is screwed. The nut 44 and the shaft 39 are interlocked and held from relative rotation by keys or splines 45. A clutch plate 46 is attached to the upper end of the shaft 39 and extends over the keys or splines and over the upper end of the nut 44, While a clutch member 47 is attached to the lower end of the nut 44, thus preventing the shaft 39 from sliding longitudinally in either direction with respect to the nut 44. The clutch 47 is designed and adapted to be engaged with and disengaged from a clutch member 48 that is rigid with the shaft 20.

The clutch member 49 is designed and adapted to engage and disengage the clutch member 46 and is normally supported out of engagement with the clutch member 46 by a coil spring 50 mounted between said clutch members 46 and 49.

A ring 51 mounted on the clutch member 46 projects upwardly into an annular groove 52 in the underside of the clutch member 49 and constitutes a baffle to prevent sand and other particles from entering the space between the clutch members 46 and 49. The clutch member 49 has lugs 53 mounted for sliding movements in diametrically opposite longitudinal grooves 54 in the shaft 20. Thus, the clutch member 49 is rotated with the shaft 20 and is required to move along said shaft when the nut 44 is screwed along the shaft. That is to say, the threads 43 constitute means for moving the nut 44 longitudinally along the shaft 20 and the clutch member 49 accompanies the nut 44 in such longitudinal movement.

A lever 55 has a ring portion 56 embracing the shaft 20. One end of the lever 55 is mounted on a pivot 57 supported by the ring 41. The free end of the lever 55 is actuated upwardly by a spring 58 connecting said lever with a rigid part 59 (Fig. 2). Obviously, the clutch member 49 is normally held disengaged from the clutch member 46 by the spring 50; and the clutch member 49 is engageable with the clutch member 46 by depression of the lever 55, which has two arms 55 seated on the upper end of the clutch member 49. When the clutch member 49 is out of engagement with the clutch member 46, the threads 43 may move the nut 44 longitudinally along the shaft 20 because the shaft 20 can turn while the nut 44 does not turn. But when the clutch member 46 is engaged with the clutch member 49, the nut 44 must turn with the shaft 20 because the clutch member 49 turns with said shaft 20.

An annular pipe 60 surrounds the lower end of the tank 11 and has a number of branch pipes 61 (Fig. 3) opening into said tank 11. Water is admitted into the pipe 60 from a pipe 62 in communication with a source of water supply. The water from the pipes 61 is admitted into the tank 11 in the general direction of rotation of the agitator above described, as will be understood by reference to Fig. 3 of the drawings, wherein the arrows indicate generally the rotary direction of the agitator and the direction of the water. A series of water outlets 63, 64 and 65 open from the tank 11 at different heights and are controlled by valves 66 so that the water may be forced to flow out through either one or the other of said outlets.

An opening 67 through the bottom wall 15 of the tank 11 constitutes an outlet passage for the washed sand. This opening 67 is surrounded by an annular valve seat 68. A truncated cone valve 69 is movable to and from position to seat against the valve seat 68 so as to close and to open the outlet passage 67. A valve 69 is attached to the upper end of a vertically movable stem 70 mounted for vertical sliding movements in a support 71 and having its lower end connected by a link 72 with the lever arm 73. The lever arm 73 is mounted on a pivot 74 and has an arm 75 pivoted to one end of a sliding arm 76. The arm 76 is mounted for sliding movements in a guide 77 and has, on its opposite end from the lever 75, a friction shoe 78.

The lower end of the shaft 20 has attached thereto a clutch member 79. A clutch member 80 is rotative on and slidable along the lower end or the shaft 20. An eccentric 81 is rigid with the clutch member 80 and operates against the friction shoe 78. A lever 82 is mounted on a pivot 83 and is engaged with the lower end of the clutch member 80 and is operative to move the clutch member 80 along the shaft 20 into and out of engagement with the clutch member 79.

A spring 84 connects the lever arm 73 with the rigid part of the machine and is effective to close the valve 69 and to hold the friction shoe 78 against the eccentric 81.

In operation, jets of water are admitted into the tank 11 through the branch pipes 61 in the general direction of rotation of the agitator. The motor 31 operates to turn the agitator in the direction of the arrows (Fig. 3), which is the direction of the arrow 85 (Fig. 4). The sand is continuously discharged into the tank 11 from the chute 9. The clutch member 49 is out of engagement with the clutch member 46 and the clutch member 47 is in engagement with the clutch member 48. Accordingly, the tubular shaft 39 and the agitator elements supported thereby are rotated as described. The sand and waste material with the sand are constantly agitated by the rotating agitator, the radial inclined blades 86 that are supported by the shaft 39 acting to propel the sand and waste material upwardly. The guides 33 and the bars 34, together with the inclined plates 36 and 38, act as baffles to deflect the sand downwardly, but to permit the lighter particles, such as the silt and the like, to rise with the water and to flow out through the selected outlet 63, 64 or 65. The clean sand being heavier than the lighter particles of waste material settles toward the bottom of the tank and, being constantly agitated, is permitted to pass out through the outlet passage 67 which is opened once during each revoluion of the shaft 20 by operation of the eccentric 81.

Should the machine stop or be stopped and the heavy sand and the like settle in the tank 11, it might be impossible to start the machine because of the resistance to the rotation of the agitator blades 86. Accordingly, under such conditions, the motor 31 is operated in the reverse direction so as to rotate the shaft 20 in the direction of the arrow 87 (Figs. 3 and 4). Since the agitator held from rotation by the sand, the threads 43 tatedwith the Shaft 20.

will screw through the nut 44. and raise the agitator blades 86 and also the baflle frame, comprising the bars 34 and the inclined plates 36 and 38. It is necessary to raise the frame 34 along with the agitator in order to prevent the agitator blades 86 from striking the plates 36 and 38 and to hold these parts in proper relationship with respect to each other.

When the agitator device has been raised to ,the desired height, the lever 55 is operated to engage the clutch member 49 with the clutch memher :6 and thus require the agitator to rotate with the shaft 20. This prevents the nut 44 from moving along the shaft 20. It may thus be determined by experimentation whether the agitator has been raised to the proper height to be rotated by the motor without endangering the motor or other parts of the machine. When it is found that the agitator is at the proper height forrotation by the motor, the motor is reversed to rotate the agitator in the opposite direction, which is in the direction of the arrow 85. The clutch member 49 may be held in engagement with the clutch member 46 until the upper portion of the settlings in the tank have been caused to float in the water, after which the clutch member 49 may be released to permit the shaft 20 to screw through the nut 44; and move the agitator downwardly a desired distance. Alternate engagement and disengagement of the clutch 49 with the clutch it may be performed or effected until the agitator is at its lower position and until the clutch member 47 engages the clutch member 48, after which the agitator will be continuously r0 Thereafter, the clutch member 49 is left out of engagement with the clutch member 46.

Sand is prevented from entering the clutch devices connecting the shaft 39 with the shaft 20 by a flexible enclosure 88 of fabric or the like enclosing the threaded portion of the shaft 20 and having its lower end connected with the ring 56. Hoops in the form of a long-spiral spring 89 within the enclosure 88 hold the enclosure distended and permit folding of the enclosure when the agitator is raised as described.

It is now clear that my invention comprises a continuously running machine for crushing sand and granular bodies and removing therefrom metallic substances, and for washing the sand and removing therefrom waste material, and then drying the cleaned sand. The machine is capable of proper operation in the manner described to prevent damage and injury to the parts and, by the use of this machine, good sand can be used over and over again in many uses;

While I have designated the machine as a sand Washer and have made frequent reference to sand and water, I am aware that the machine may be applied to other uses than washing sand. Where the Words sand and water are used, no limitation is thereby intended or made. This will be apparent to those skilled in the art because the machine is really a separator or classifier capable of use for separating or classifying broken or crushed or granular substances other than sand. I contemplate the use of other liquids than water, such as acid preparations, whereby the separation and classification of the granular substances may be effected by the mechanism herein disclosed or its equivalent. Accordingly, the machine is capable of satisfactory application to many uses other than those specifically stated and the invention is claimed in any use to which it may be applied.

The construction and arrangement of the parts comprising the machine may be widely varied without departure from the nature and principle of the invention.

I do not restrict myself unessentially, but what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a machine of the character described, a tank arranged to contain sand and water, a rotary agitator in said tank, a rotary shaft, mechanism for rotating said shaft, mechanism operated by said shaft for rotating said agitator when said shaft is rotated in one direction, and mechanism for moving said agitator vertically when said shaft is rotated in the opposite direction.

2. In a machine of the character described, a tank arranged to contain sand and water, a rotary agitator in said tank, a rotary shaft, mechanism for rotating said shaft, mechanism operated by said shaft for rotating said agitator when said shaft is rotated in one direction, mechanism for moving said agitator vertically when said shaft is rotated in the opposite direction, and a device for stopping vertical movement of said agitator.

3. In a machine of the character described, 'a tank arranged to contain a mixture of sand and water, stationary baffles in said tank, a rotary shaft, agitator blades attached to said shaft, mechanism for rotating said shaft and said blades, mechanism for moving said shaft vertically, and means controlled by said shaft for moving said baffles vertically to maintain said baflles and said blades in the same relative relationship.

4. In a machine of the character described, a tank arranged to contain a mixture of sand and water, stationary bafiles in said tank, a rotary shaft, agitator blades attached to said shaft, mechanism for rotating said shaft and said blades, mechanism for moving said shaft vertically, means controlled by said shaft for moving said bafiies vertically to maintain said battles and said blades in the same relative relationship, and a device for limiting extent of vertical movement of said shaft and causing said shaft to rotate.

5. In a machine of the character described, a tank arranged to contain a mixture of sand and water, baflles in said tank, means for supporting said baifles in stationary position in said tank, a rotary agitator in said tank, mechanism for rotating said agitator while said bafiles remain stationary, and means for causing said mechanism to move said agitator and said bafiles simultaneously toward the upper portion of the tank.

6. In a machine of the character described, a tank arranged to contain a mixture of sand and water, baffles in said tank, means for supporting said bafiles in stationary position in said tank, a rotary agitator in said tank, mechanism for rotating said agitator while said baffles remain stationary, means for causing said mechanism to move said agitator and said baffles simultaneously toward the upper portion of the tank, and a device for limiting upper movement of said agitator and said baffles.

'7. In a machine of the character described, a tank arranged to contain a mixture of sand and water, a device at the lower portion of the tank controlling removal of the sand from the tank, a device near the upper portion of the tank controlling removal of the lighter particles from the tank separately from the sand, a series of Stationary bafiies in the tank between said devices, a series of rotary agitator members in the tank between said devices, mechanism for rotating said agitator members in a direction to propel upwardly the lighter solid particles while the heavier particles move toward the lower portion of the tank, and means for moving upwardly said agitator members and said baliies.

8. In a machine of the character described, a tank arranged to contain a mixture of sand and Water, a device at the lower portion of the tank controlling removal of the sand from the tank, a device near the upper portion of the tank controlling removal of the lighter particles from the twk separately from the sand, a series of stationary battles in the tank between said devices, a series of rotary agitator members in the tank between said devices, mechanism for rotating said agitator members in a direction to propel upwardly the lighter solid particles while the heavier particles move toward the lower portion of the tank, means for moving upwardly said agitator members and said bafiles, and a device for limiting upward eX- tent of movement of said agitator members and said baffles.

9. A machine of the character described comprising a tank arranged to contain a mixture of sand and water, guide baflles in the tank, inclined bafiies in the tank, a rotary agitator in the tank, mechanism for rotating said agitator in either direction as desired, n cans for holding said agitator in one horizontal position when said agitator is rotated in one direction, and mechanism for raising said agitator in the tank when said agitator is rotated in the opposite direction.

10. A machine of the character described comprising a tank arranged to contain a mixture of sand and water, guide bafiies in the tank, inclined bafiies in the tank, a rotary agitator in the tank, mechanism for rotating said agitator in either direction as desired, means for holding said agitator in one horizontal position when said agitator is rotated in one direction, mechanism for raising said agitator in the tank when said agitator is rotated in the opposite direction, and means for controlling the height to which said agitator will be raised by said mechanism.

11. A machine of the character described comprising a tank arranged to contain a mixture of sand and water, a rotary shaft in said tank, a cylindrical shaft enclosing said rotary shaft, agitator elements mounted on said cylindrical shaft, mechanism for rotating said cylindrical shaft by said rotary shaft while said cylindrical shaft remains in one longitudinal position, and mechanism operated by said rotary shaft for moving said cylindrical shaft longitudinally.

12. A machine of the character described comprising a tank arranged to contain a mixture of sand and water and having separate outlets for clean sand and for the waste particles respectively, a rotary agitator in said tank for causing the waste particles to rise in the water and to pass through the outlet therefor, baffles cooperating with said agitator causing the heavier particles to settle toward the bottom of the tank for withdrawal through the outlet for the clean sand,

mechanism for raising and lowering said agitator in the tank, and means controlled by said mechanism for raising and lowering said baffles.

13. In a machine of the character described, a tank arranged to contain sand and water, a series of baffles in the tank, a vertical rotary shaft mounted in the tank, a rotary agitator connected with said shaft for rotation thereby when said shaft is rotated in one direction, mechanism for rotating said shaft in either direction as desired, and means for moving said agitator vertically when said agitator is held from rotation by said shaft and said shaft is rotated in the opposite direction from the direction in which it rotates said agitator as aforesaid.

14. In a machine of the character described, a tank arranged to contain sand and water, a vertical shaft mounted for rotation in said tank, a rotary agitator mounted in said tank, mechanism for rotating said shaft in either direction as desired, and means connecting said agitator with said shaft whereby said agitator will be rotated with said shaft when said shaft is rotated in one direction and will be moved vertically when said shaft is rotated in the opposite direction and said agitator is held from rotation.

15. In a machine of the character described, a tank arranged to contain sand and water, a vertical rotary shaft in said tank, a rotary agitator in said tank, mechanism for rotating said shaft in either direction,"mechanism for rotating said agitator by said shaft when said shaft is rotated in one direction, mechanism for moving said agitator vertically when said shaft is rotated in the opposite direction, and mechanism operated by said vertical shaft controlling discharge of the contents of said tank through the bottom of the tank irrespective of the direction of rotation of said shaft.

16. In a machine of the character described, a tank arranged to contain a mixture of sand and water, stationary baffles in said tank, a rotary shaft in said tank, an agitator device in said tank operated by said shaft, mechanism for rotating said shaft, and means for moving said agitator and said stationary baffles vertically when said shaft is rotated in one direction and said agitator is held against rotation.

1'7. In a machine of the character described, a tank arranged to contain a mixture of sand and water, stationary baffles in said tank, a rotary shaft in said tank, an agitator device in said tank operated by said shaft, mechanism for rotating said shaft in either direction, means for moving said agitator and said stationary baiiies vertically when said shaft is rotated in one direction and said agitator is held against rotation, and mechanism operated by said vertical shaft controlling intermittent discharge of the contents of said tank.

ANDREW F. HOWE. 

